[linux-audio-user] Direct In

[John Bleichert]

On Fri July 25 2003 5:54 am, Chris wrote:
> Hello.
<snip>
> My friend recently purchased an "all-in-one" unit from Roland, a 24
> track 24 bit digital recorder, that cost him about $2,500 I think
> (excluding cabling, mics etc).  He says he goes direct -- and not only
> direct but totally clean.  All effects, including distortion are added
> after the fact. He goes from his guitar into his recorder!  This sure
> seems strange to me, although I can understand the logic there.  Is this
> what you guys do?
>
> I would love to hear how you all handle this.  :0)
>

Well, for a couple years I was able to do recording with my old Soundblaster 
but that was very limiting, one channel in, not much luck with full-duplex 
(recording while playing a previously recorded track). I bit the bullet and 
bought an M-Audio Delta 44 (about $250 last year I believe) and a Behringer 
project mixer.

Since I can't really even turn my guitar amp on in my apartment (Mesa/Boogie 
has 2 volumes - off and *LOUD*) I do most of my project recording plugged 
through an effects pedal, such as:

guitar --> fx pedal --> mixer --> Delta44 --> PC

I've also done a fair amount of live tracking (mic'd amps) with this same rig. 
It sounds great. For the neophyte PC recorder I suggest Audacity 
(audacity.sourceforge.net) as it has a very lightweight learning curve. I've 
done a great deal of multi-track recording with it. There are quite a few 
Linux apps for multitrack recording (notably Ardour) but Audacity was the 
easiest one to get started with. A drum machine helps too. It allows me to 
write songs, record the skeletons, mail them (on CD) to people I play with 
who are 2 hours away, meet up with them and play, then do proper mix-down of 
all the live tracked material afterwards. All with Slackware, ALSA and 
Audacity.

Several of my friends have the all-in-one recording rigs (like the Roland you 
mention above) but I like the PC solution - it's much more flexible. YMMV.

HTH - JB